Botox for Crow’s Feet

There are several factors that can cause crow's feet, including:

• Ageing: as we get older there are fewer elastin fibres in our skin because they break down faster than new ones are produced by our body – this causes the wrinkling that we see across our face and body.

• Over-exposure to the sun: the sun is a major source of skin damage and ageing. It causes wrinkles, uneven pigmentation, age spots and freckles. The sun also contributes to the breakdown of collagen, which leads to saggy skin.

• Facial expressions: frowning, squinting, smiling and laughing can cause increased pressure on certain areas, making them more susceptible to developing crow's feet!

• Genetics: these can play a role in determining the severity of your crow's feet.

If you are interested in Botox for crow's feet, practitioners generally advise it is best to start early.

Note that a good practitioner will not treat anyone under the age of 18 with Botox injections. Crow’s Feet typically become deeper with age and the best results tend to be achieved when they are still relatively shallow.

Having Botox injections or any other licensed brand of botulinum toxin injected can give very natural results.

It will take less than 30 minutes to complete the procedure, which is relatively pain-free. You may feel a 'sharp scratch' as the needle goes in.

Expect to experience some redness and swelling immediately after treatment – this should reduce after a few hours.

If you are considering botulinum toxin treatment, you should know that it does not eliminate wrinkles entirely and you will need follow-up injections (or 'top-ups') every three to six months.

Side effects to Botox and other brands of botulinum toxin are rare, but can include:

• Headaches

• Swelling

• Allergic reaction

• Droopy eyelids

• Dry eyes or mouth

The most dangerous complications are double vision and difficulty breathing, but these are thankfully extremely rare.

If you experience any side effects or complications, contact your practitioner immediately.

To receive the best results, Botox injections must be administered by a trained medical professional who understands how to properly inject a patient’s face.

We highly recommend that you only undergo treatment with a medically-qualified professional, who will have undergone training in anatomy and physiology, as well as be accountable to a regulatory body such as the General Medical Council (GMC), Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), or General Dental Council (GDC).

They should also be able to advise you of the risks of injectable treatment and be confident in handling complications if they arise.

Check out our handy guide for finding a practitioner you can trust.